The first day of 2011 was busy, in, around, and above Altadena. We've got some pictures to share -- and a poem -- after the jump.
Mom/coach Robyn Navarro readies the board as Luigi goes for the final time today.
... and he takes off ...
... and skimboards down the ramp to the delight of the crowd.
New Year's Day also means a lot of interesting craft in the air.
Matthew Shropshire shares this shot of a USCG HC-130H Hercules based out of Sacramento that was orbiting the area today.
And Mason Sedlick took the shot of these Super Hornet strike-fighter jets in formation approaching the Rose Bowl from Hahamongna and the Devil's Gate Dam at about 2 PM this afternoon.
And check out this Pasadena Star-News story on Geoff Thran's yard -- the N. Arroyo Blvd. resident paints his lawn every year to look like the Rose Bowl playing field. As hobbies go, it's not the worst one we've ever seen!
And, finally, reader Gloriana Casey favors us with her New Year's poem:
"Counting Backwards"
from gloriana casey 1-01-11
I wonder-- back a hundred years,
well--just how far we've come?
Two thousand ten--we wave good bye.
Was 1910 much fun?
Amazing! A long British strike
and miners paved the way,
to fight for work for just 8 hours
but live on lowly pay.
Back then Parisians had great floods,
water drowning power
This year they had such heavy snow,
it closed the Eiffel Tower!!
Then Halley's Comet came same year,
and Death--- Mark Twain, he took.
One hundred years have passed and yet,
we're reading Twain's new book.
In history ---a meteor,
in Mexico it struck!
This year we have volcanoes wild,
with people out of luck.
In 1910, first Father's Day,
for parent rights, so fair.
This year we get "Decision Points,"
foreclosures everywhere!.
Back then, Japan, in power took
Korea to annex.
Now North Korea's the tough guy
and South Korea's next?
Back then the president was BIG
and that "Big Lub" was Taft.
Obama is the big guy now,
and Congress--- it is daft!
One hundred years ago--New Words,
and JAZZ made its debut.
plus SCHIZOPHRENIC made its mark
Your head can talk to you!
And looking back a hundred years
to see their salary.
$750.00 for the year!
How could this ever be?
The sales? This year a Christmas rush,
the other months so slow.
But--jobs were sent off- shore en masse,
the Rocky Corporate Show!
Back then, the life span, much too short
at 48 for men.
Though women aced them out a bit,
but 51's no win.
But history says in Nineteen -Ten,
the U.S. starts its rise.
A growing force within the world
in military size.
100 years, it seems a draw
in weather and in work.
And pay, it seems as miserable
with nary any perk.
In 1910, a bomb went off
it thrashed the L.A. Times.
Two thousand ten, Wall St.----BP,
we keep on seeing crimes.
A new year comes, let's take a peek
a hundred years remove.
1911, a painting's fate
Mona Lisa--- theft from Louvre!
100 years ago ---till now,
and new world will arise.
So Baby New Year, what's your gift?
Be nice! No weird surprise! *****
